More than two decades since the release of Biwi No. If they fail to make the switch, or lean on to one extreme more than the other, well, they deserve the punishment of desertion then, no? Like Rupali, she lacked sanskaar because why else would she dare to masturbate in the privacy of her own bedroom?įilmmakers in Bollywood are obsessed with this trope, which is essentially the desi iteration of “lady in the streets, freak in the sheets.” From Tina in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai to Poo in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, leading ladies of Hindi cinema seamlessly switch between “sexy woman” to “ sanskaari wife” - mostly by exhibiting their bhajan-singing abilities to prove their sanskaar. In 2018’s Veere Di Wedding, a man chooses to divorce his wife because she, too, failed to find the perfect balance between sexiness and sanskaar. Unfortunately, we forgot to leave behind Pendulum’s expectations of women as we made our way into the 2000s - or even the 2010s. So, naturally, Pendulum swings back to her. ” Yet, eventually, he leaves his “lover” Rupali too - because she never managed to be as sanskaari as his wife, who has, by now, worn enough mini skirts to convince him she is capable of balancing her sanskaar with sexiness. To prevent him from seeking affection elsewhere - as though his philandering were justified - his mother good-naturedly advises his wife: “ Tu uski premika ban, biwi nahi. Why? Because she was so caught up in singing bhajans, performing domestic chores, caring for his mother, and parenting their children that she couldn’t find the time to whisper sweet nothings to him on the phone.Ĭan We Move On: From The Long‑Suffering Woman Trope As A Vehicle To Highlight Men’s Virtues Although he calls her beauty intoxicating her body, lighter than a flower and her walk electrifying like lightning - it doesn’t stop him from cheating on her just a few scenes later. 1, we see Salman Khan’s character (whom I shall henceforth refer to as “Pendulum”) leaving his wife for a model because she was so sanskaari, she forgot to be sexy enough.
But would that have mattered in a world where we believe men are, by nature, wired to cheat if their female partners don’t embody just the right balance between sexy and sanskaari? If Kush hadn’t been so focused on creating a sexist catalog, maybe, he would’ve had the chance to figure out his brother was missing the basic quality of honesty, which, arguably, is important to sustain any relationship. Interestingly, however, Luv is in love with an entirely different person, in the meantime, whom he eventually elopes with. Kush, played by Imran Khan, sings about his expectations from his future bhabhi: she must be like a “model ” must not be “lazy” about performing her duties and must not have an “ego.” Basically, the woman must be “sugar, spice, and everything nice” in order to be considered a suitable match for Kush’s brother, Luv.
Although the fact that it sounds eerily similar to matrimonial ads is rather telling of what the Indian society expects from women in heterosexual partnerships. The lyrics double up as his checklist - and a rather long one at that. These are the lyrics of a song that sets the tone for Mere Brother Ki Dulhan (2011), a big-banner Bollywood movie about a man looking for the “ideal” bride for his elder brother. If you think they’re lines from a matrimonial ad, you’re mistaken.
“ Sundar ho aur sushila… fashion bhi jaane… ho Sita jaise naari… ” Pooja soon discovers Prem’s love and gives an ultimatum.In Can We Move On, we revisit old tropes and question whether they have any remaining cultural relevance. Prem wants to have the cake and eat it too. Add to all this Lakhan and his wife are good friends of Prem and his wife. Prem leads a double life being a doting father and ever-loving husband on one hand and prancing around the streets with Roopali on the other. A gorgeous model, Roopali, enters Prem’s life to revive him of his ever so bouncing hormones. Pooja who is busy, with her 2 adorable kids and Prem’s mom, neglects her man. Synopsis: Prem and Pooja lead an ever so normal rich life. Starring: Anil Kapoor, Salman Khan, Karisma Kapoor, Sushmita Sen